Amarnath Yatra 2015

Amarnath Yatra, the most named pilgrimage tour in India that calls all the devotees towards the famous cave of Lord Shiva in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the form of white “Shivlingam” made naturally of snow. The pilgrims need to cover the rugged and challenging ways towards the Amarnath Cave, 40m which is surrounded by snowy mountains throughout the year. The cave itself is covered with snow most time of the year except for a short period of time in summer when it is open for the devotees.

The Amarnath Darshan is all about an annual pilgrimage that is made to the Amarnath cave by lakhs of Hindu devotees on the challenging mountainous terrains to catch the mightiest glimpse of an ice stalagmite formed inside the cave.

If Lord Shiva has truly called you to visit His holy shrine at Amarnath, be assured that our Amarnath Tour packages are the perfect answers to your prayers for a well-crafted, meticulously executed, and spiritually catalytic Amarnath yatra. Whether you want to visit the holy cave of Amarnath from Baltal or Pahalgam, or also want to include the wondrous spots of Kashmir along with Maa’s holy shrine at Vaishno Devi in a single journey, our Amarnath yatra packages are well-tailored to suit your unique expectations from the holy pilgrimage.

Pilgrims visit the holy site during the 45-day season around the festival of Shravani Mela in July-August, coinciding with the Hindu holy month of Shraavana. The beginning of this annual pilgrimage called the Amarnath Ji Yatra is marked by ‘Pratham pujan’ to invoke the blessings of Shri Amarnathji.

Amarnath Yatra 2014

Amarnath Yatra, the most named pilgrimage tour in India that calls all the devotees towards the famous cave of Lord Shiva in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the form of white “Shivlingam” made naturally of snow. The pilgrims need to cover the rugged and challenging ways towards the Amarnath Cave, 40m which is surrounded by snowy mountains throughout the year. The cave itself is covered with snow most time of the year except for a short period of time in summer when it is open for the devotees.

The Amarnath Darshan is all about an annual pilgrimage that is made to the Amarnath cave by lakhs of Hindu devotees on the challenging mountainous terrains to catch the mightiest glimpse of an ice stalagmite formed inside the cave.

If Lord Shiva has truly called you to visit His holy shrine at Amarnath, be assured that our Amarnath Tour packages are the perfect answers to your prayers for a well-crafted, meticulously executed, and spiritually catalytic Amarnath yatra. Whether you want to visit the holy cave of Amarnath from Baltal or Pahalgam, or also want to include the wondrous spots of Kashmir along with Maa’s holy shrine at Vaishno Devi in a single journey, our Amarnath yatra packages are well-tailored to suit your unique expectations from the holy pilgrimage.

Pilgrims visit the holy site during the 45-day season around the festival of Shravani Mela in July-August, coinciding with the Hindu holy month of Shraavana. The beginning of this annual pilgrimage called the Amarnath Ji Yatra is marked by ‘Pratham pujan’ to invoke the blessings of Shri Amarnathji.

Amarnath Yatra 2013

Amarnath Yatra, the most named pilgrimage tour in India that calls all the devotees towards the famous cave of Lord Shiva in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the form of white “Shivlingam” made naturally of snow. The pilgrims need to cover the rugged and challenging ways towards the Amarnath Cave, 40m which is surrounded by snowy mountains throughout the year. The cave itself is covered with snow most time of the year except for a short period of time in summer when it is open for the devotees.

The Amarnath Darshan is all about an annual pilgrimage that is made to the Amarnath cave by lakhs of Hindu devotees on the challenging mountainous terrains to catch the mightiest glimpse of an ice stalagmite formed inside the cave.

If Lord Shiva has truly called you to visit His holy shrine at Amarnath, be assured that our Amarnath Tour packages are the perfect answers to your prayers for a well-crafted, meticulously executed, and spiritually catalytic Amarnath yatra. Whether you want to visit the holy cave of Amarnath from Baltal or Pahalgam, or also want to include the wondrous spots of Kashmir along with Maa’s holy shrine at Vaishno Devi in a single journey, our Amarnath yatra packages are well-tailored to suit your unique expectations from the holy pilgrimage.

Pilgrims visit the holy site during the 45-day season around the festival of Shravani Mela in July-August, coinciding with the Hindu holy month of Shraavana. The beginning of this annual pilgrimage called the Amarnath Ji Yatra is marked by ‘Pratham pujan’ to invoke the blessings of Shri Amarnathji.

The Manimahesh Lake is situated Twenty-six kilometers from Bharmour in the Budhil valley , one of the chief pilgrimage spots in Himachal Pradesh. The lake is situated at an altitude of 13,000 feet at the foot of the Kailash peak (18,564 ft). Every year, on the eighth day of the light half of the moon in the month of Bhadon, a fair is held at this lake, which attracts thousands of pilgrims who assemble here to take a dip in the holy water.

Lord Shiva is the presiding deity of this fair / jatra. He is believed to reside in Kailash. A rock formation in the shape of a Shivling on Kailash is considered to be the manifestation of Lord Shiva. The snowfield at the base of the mountain is called Shiva’s Chaugan by the local people.

Mount Kailash is considered as invincible. No one has so far been able to scale this peak despite the fact that much taller peaks, including Mount Everest have been conquered many times. One story goes that once a Gaddi tried to climb the mountain alongwith his herd of sheep. He is believed to have been turned stone alongwith his sheep. The series of minor peaks below the principal peak are believed to be the remains of the ill-fated shepherd and his flock.

There is yet another legend according to which a snake also attempted to climb this peak but failed and was turned into stone. It is also believed that the devotees can have a view of the Kailash peak only if the Lord is pleased. Bad weather, when the peak is hidden behind clouds, is a sign of the Lord’s displeasure.

At one corner of the Manimahesh lake is a marble image of Shiva which is worshipped by the pilgrims who visit this place. After bathing in the holy waters, the pilgrims go around the circumference of the lake three times. The lake and its surroundings present a majestic view. The quiet waters of the lake carry the reflection of snow capped peaks that carry over the valley.

Manimahesh is approached from different routes. Pilgrims from Lahaul-Spiti come through Kugti pass. Some from Kangra and Mandi come via Kawarsi or Jalsu passes. The easiest route is from Chamba and runs through Bharmaur. At present buses ply upto Hadsar via Bharmour. Beyond Hadsar, the pilgrims have to trek for 13 kms to reach Manimahesh.Between Hadsar and Manimahesh is an important halting place known as Dhanchho where pilgrims usually spend a night. There is a beautiful waterfall.

About one and half kilometers short of Manimahesh lake fall two religiously important water bodies called Gauri Kund and Shiva Krotri where as per popular belief Gauri and Shiva bathe respectively. The women pilgrims do take holy dip in Gauri Kund and the men pilgrims in Shiva Krotri before proceeding to Manimahesh lake.

Chamba is bounded on north-west by Jammu and Kashmir, on the north-east and east by Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state and Lahaul and Bara-Bangal area of Himachal Pradesh, on the south-east and south by the District Kangra of Himachal Pradesh and Gurdaspur District of the Punjab.

The Chamba District is situated between north latitude 32° 11′ 30” and 33° 13′ 6” and east longitude 75°49 and 77° 3′ 30”, with an estimated area of 6522 square Kilometers and is surrounded on all sides by lofty hill ranges. The territory is wholly mountainous with altitude ranging from 2,000 to 21,000 feet.

Chamba the land of lord Shiva is famous for its untouched natural beauty. The district has Dalhousie, Khajjiar, Chamba Town, Pangi and Bharamour as main tourist destinations. There are five lakes, five wild life sanctuaries and countless number of temples.

Chamba, is a small but attractive tourist destination of Himachal Pradesh, is known for its exquisite natural beauty. The place, located amidst picturesque and verdant valleys, is visited by tourist round the year. Sub-Himalayan range of mountains, full of diverse flora and fauna, make Chamba an exhilarating experience. Pleasing climate of the place is another factor why Chamba is one among the popular tourist destinations in the whole of India. In the following lines, we will provide you more information on the weather and climate of Chamba.

The summer season in Chamba starts from the middle of April and lasts till the last week of June. Even in summers, when the plains are boiling with high temperatures, the weather here remains quite pleasing. This is the time when majority of tourist takes shelter in the place. Days are a little warm, but nights are romantic and cool. Light cotton clothes are ideal during summers.

Rains in Chamba start in the month of July, when the monsoon breaks-in, and continue till late August or mid September. This is the time when the weather is misty and cloudy. During this time, the entire valley is covered in a hue of light green, with newly washed leaves shining in the glory of after-rain sunshine.

The winter season in Chamba starts in the month of December and lasts till the month of February. During this season, Chamba generally remains cool and dry, but snowfall does occur at higher elevations, during these months. In the winter season, the temperature might drop to freezing point in the lower region too and snowfall may happen. Tourists should go with heavy woolen clothes during this season and enjoy snowfall.

The Laxmi Narayan Temple is the main tourist attraction of the town. The architecture of the six temples in this complex is an example of the Hindu shikhara style of architecture. However, the local flavor is distinct and makes the carvings on these temples unique. Three temples are dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and another three to Lord Shiva. The temple was built in the 10th century AD and was renovated in the 16th century. This Laxmi Narayan Temple complex also some fine sculptures of residing deities, which include figures of Lord Vishnu (of the Hindu trilogy), Goddess Laxmi (Goddess of wealth), Narasimha (Lion form of Lord Vishnu) and Lord Krishna.

Chowgan, the grassy promenade at the heart of the town, is the focus for local festivals.

To the northeast of the Laxmi Narayan temple lies the small Surara temples. Nearby is the Brajreshwari Devi temple, dedicated to Goddess Durga. This temple is constructed in the of traditional shikhara style and is known for intricate carvings on its surface.

Tour to Chamba The Chamunda Devi Temple is located on a hill overlooking the town of Chamba and one has to climb for about 30 minutes to reach it. This temple is dedicated to Chamunda, the wrathful form of Goddess Durga. The entire wooden ceiling of this temple is embellished with intricate carvings depicting floral motifs and different deities. This temple has a number of brass bells, offered by the devotees, and footprints of the Goddess on a small pillar.

The Sui Mata Temple is located between the Chamunda Devi temple and Brajreshwari Devi temple, and is dedicated to Sui Mata (a local princess, who gave her life for the people in Chamba). Colorful paintings within the temple depict the life of Sui.

The 11th-century Harirai Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is also made in the Shikhara style and has a triple-headed statue of Lord Vishnu made from eight different materials.

Other temples to visit in Chamba are the Radha Krishna Temple, the Sitaram Temple and the Champavati Temple.

The Rangmahal or the Old Palace is another important place to visit and houses the Himachal Emporium, from where the travelers can buy handicraft items. The Bhuri Singh Museum has a good collection of artifacts belonging to this region. Of particular importance is the collection of traditional miniature paintings. St Andrew’s Church and Gandhi Gate are also worth visiting.

I am sure that, Amarnath cave needs no introduction. It is a very famous cave, located in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The altitude of the cave is 3,888 m. The cave is about 141 km from Shrinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The Amarnath temple can be reached through the Pahalgam town. As you all know that, lord Shiva is the main god of Amarnath cave. The best part is that, the Shivalinga will form naturally due to freezing of water drops.

The water drops fall down from the ceiling of the cave and it grows up vertically from the floor of the cave. This is how the Shivalinga in Amarnath cave will be formed. If you want to see this in your naked eyes, you need to take the Amarnath yatra. You can reach the Amarnath temple by two routes. One is through the old and traditional route called Pahalgam town and it will take 5 days to reach the Amarnath cave.

Second route is that, you can take trekking from Baltal and it will take 1 to two days to reach the cave. It is you that has to choose the route what you find reliable and soothing for you. It is needless to mention that, trekking would not be that simple. If you are physically fit and fine, you can do trekking. Otherwise, you should take the traditional route to reach the cave. May to September is the best time to visit the Amarnath temple. During this time, the temperature will be good.

Amarnath is one of the most famous pilgrimage destinations of India and is organized every year by the government of Jammu and Kashmir. The shrine has an important part to play in Hindu culture and is considered to be one of the holiest shrines. The main cave is situated at a height of 12,756 ft from the sea level and remains covered with snow most of the year except for a short period of time in summer. Every year ‘Amarnath Yatra’ is marked by ‘Pratham Pujan’ which is said to summon the blessings of Baba Amarnath and attracts a large number of devotees from all over the world.

As per the beliefs, the Amarnath Cave is where God Shiva was narrating Amar Katha to Goddess Parvati and wanted to keep it a secret. Therefore, he left all his companions behind. His riding friend – Nandi, the bull – was left at Pahalgam, the moon atop his head at Chandanwari, the snake around his neck at Lake Sheshnag, the 5 basic essentials of life that he carried at Panchtarini and even his son- Lord Ganesha himself- at Mahaguna top.

When he finished the narration, he realized that Goddess Parvati has actually fallen asleep and a parrot was listening all this while. This infuriated the Lord and he threw his Trishul to kill the parrot. To save himself, the parrot entered the womb of the saint’s wife. The baby was later born to become a famous sage.

There are two Amarnath Yatra routes that pilgrims can take to travel Amarnath Cave and both these routes are well connected from all the major cities for easy connectivity. To start from Srinagar or Pahalgam, one will have to trek to a height of more than 14,000 feet. Hence, being physically fit and mentally prepared for the journey is a must. The two routes to Amarnath Yatra are:

It is the most popular and shortest route to reach the cave. The region of Baltal is 14 km from the Cave and allows people to only walk. Ponies are not allowed. However, one can be carried on ‘Dandies’. The trek via Baltal usually takes 1-2 days to complete. This route is advised to be taken by the people who are young, healthy and looking for some adventure amidst the religious trip.

This is the most preferable route and is around 47 km from the main Amarnath Cave Site. The first step of Yatra starts at Chandanwari which is 16 km from the Pahalgam base camp and is at 9,500 feet. Then there is Pissu top, which is 3 km away and located at 11,000 ft, Shesnag – 9 km from Pissu top at 11,730 ft, followed by the Panjtarni-12 km ahead and located at 12,000 feet. Pilgrims who cannot walk this far can opt for Helicopter services easily available for it. The trek usually takes 3-5 days one way to complete.